Saw Table

Kickback And Table Saw Safety - How To Avoid Kickbacks

Kickback can be a very dangeroustable saw
problem. Kickbacks happen when the product being cut is unexpectedly driven backward, towards the woodworker, by the table saw blade. Kickbacks are usualy caused by the saw’s teeth catching or grabbing onto, and not cutting through, the product on the table.

Table Saw Safety Precautions

Make sure thetable saw
being used has enough power to cut through the wood or material on the table. If you plan to cut hardwoods three or more inches thick, then a 3 to 5 horsepower motor is recommended. These size motors are usually found on cabinet saws. If you plan to cut hardwoods two inches thick or less, then a 1.5 to 2 horsepower motor is recommended.

Make sure the saw’s blade is at the proper height. Not too high and not too low. If the saw’s blade is set too low, there will be too many teeth in the wood at any point in time. This can cause the motor to work too hard and create too much heat and drag on it. A blade set too high can also be dangerous given the blade’s sharp edges. Many recommend blade heights of about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches above the wood. The actual height will depend on the type of cut being made.

Maintain a constant, even feed, of the material being cut, into the saw. A common error is feeding the material too slowly or quickly. Too slow a feed can cause drag and over tax the motor. Too fast can cause a jagged, uneven cut. The feed rate should depend on several factors including your ability to handle the feed rate, the saw’s ability to handle the feed rate, the length of the material being cut, the type of material and the horsepower of the motor.